updated 03:06 pm EDT, Tue July 29, 2014

MacBooks stolen

A smash-and-grab robbery took place at the Southpoint Apple Store in Durham, North Carolina on Monday night, a report notes. The thieves smashed their way in via one of the store's glass panels, then proceeded to take an unknown number of MacBooks on display. The outlet has been closed on Tuesday as a result.

Apple Stores have been a target of thieves for years. The problem has been blamed on a combination of factors, namely the size-to-value ratio of Apple products, and the company's insistence on using glass facades. In many cases, criminals will simply ram a vehicle through a facade, take what they can, and then disappear before police or security guards can respond.

Apple has implemented extra security measures at some locations -- such as bollards and/or security gates -- but not universally.

With all that glass frontage, Apple stores might as well put out a flashing neon sign that says, "Rob me." That and all the valuable, easily stole gear there simply for the grabbing makes them very tempting.